Magnetic card reader

ABSTRACT

A magnetic stripe reader including a base element defining a first spring seat, a magnetic module support element arranged for limited pivotable motion relative to the base element and defining a second spring seat, a generally truncated conical spring having a first, relatively large diameter end seated in the first spring seat and a second, relatively small diameter end seated in the second spring seat and a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto the magnetic module support element.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Reference is hereby made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/580,995,filed Dec. 23, 2014 and entitled Magnetic Stripe Card Reader, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to magnetic stripe card readers generally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of magnetic stripe card readers are known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved magnetic stripe cardreader.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a magnetic stripe reader including a base elementdefining a first spring seat, a magnetic module support element arrangedfor limited pivotable motion relative to the base element and defining asecond spring seat, a generally truncated conical spring having a first,relatively large diameter end seated in the first spring seat and asecond, relatively small diameter end seated in the second spring seatand a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto the magnetic module supportelement.

Preferably, the magnetic module support element includes a generallyplanar portion and a pair of legs disposed generally perpendicularly togenerally planar portion, each of the pair of legs defining an elongateslot. Additionally, the base element includes a pair of cylindricalprotrusions and a pair of corresponding protrusions and each of the pairof cylindrical protrusions and each of the pair of correspondingprotrusions is located in sliding engagement with a corresponding one ofthe elongate slots associated with one of the pair of legs.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention thesliding engagement guides and limits mutual spring loaded displacementbetween the base element and the magnetic module support element.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention themagnetic module support element includes a retaining tab extending in aplane parallel to the plane of generally planar portion and the baseelement includes a tab engagement surface portion engaging the retainingtab.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention thegenerally truncated conical spring provides displacement of the magneticmodule support element relative to the base element when the magneticstripe reader is engaged by a leading edge of a payment card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a card reader constructed andoperative in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are respective downward-facing and upward-facingpictorial illustrations of a magnetic stripe reader module forming partof the card reader of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 2C and 2D are sectional illustration taken along respective linesIIC-IIC and IID-IID in FIG. 2A;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are respective downward-facing and upward-facingexploded view illustrations of a magnetic stripe reader module formingpart of the card reader of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are simplified pictorial illustrations of a base portionof the magnetic stripe reader module of FIGS. 2A-3B, shown in twodifferent orientations;

FIG. 5 is a simplified illustration of a stage in the assembly of themagnetic stripe reader module of FIGS. 2A-4B;

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are simplified illustrations of the card reader ofFIG. 1 in three operative orientations, when a card is not engaged withthe card reader, when a card initially engages the magnetic stripereader module and when a card is engaged in magnetic stripe card readerengagement with the card reader; and

FIG. 7 is a simplified illustration of a card reader constructed andoperative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified illustration of acard reader 100 constructed and operative in accordance with onepreferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 1, thecard reader 100 comprises a housing, preferably including a top portion102 and a bottom portion 104. Disposed within the housing, inter alia,is a main board 106 and a magnetic stripe reader module support base 108having an aperture 110 communicating with a card swipe slot 112. Amagnetic stripe reader module 114 extends partially through aperture 110into slot 112. It is appreciated that throughout the description, theterms “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower” and similar terms refer to theorientations of the various elements as shown in FIG. 1, with theunderstanding that the orientation of the card reader 100 and of themagnetic stripe reader module can be any suitable orientation.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 2A-3B, it is seen that in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention, magnetic stripereader module 114 preferably comprises a magnetic reader head portion116, typically including three parallel mutually spaced magnetic trackreading sensors 118. Magnetic reader head portion 116 is coupled to aflexible flat cable 120, which operatively connects it to circuitry (notshown) preferably mounted on main board 106.

Magnetic reader head portion 116 and flexible flat cable 120 are fixedlymounted onto a magnetic head mounting bracket 122. It is a particularfeature of an embodiment of the present invention, that magnetic headmounting bracket 122 is spring mounted onto a base element 124 via atruncated cone spring 126. A pair of mounting screws 128 serve to attachthe magnetic stripe reader module 114 onto the magnetic stripe readermodule support base 108 at aperture 110.

Magnetic head mounting bracket 122 preferably comprises a generallyplanar portion 130 and a pair of upstanding end portions 131 and 132integrally formed with planar portion 130 at opposite ends thereof. Apair of legs 134 and 136 are disposed generally perpendicularly togenerally planar portion 130 and extend therefrom in a directionopposite to that of upstanding end portions 132. Legs 134 and 136 arepreferably formed with elongate slots respectively designated byreference numerals 138 and 140 and foot portions respectively designatedby reference numerals 142 and 144 which lie in a plane parallel to thatof planar portion 130 and span respective slots 138 and 140.

A retaining tab 146 extends in a plane parallel to that of planarportion 130 from a depending portion 148 located at one corner ofgenerally planar portion 130. A central depending protrusion 150 ispreferably formed at a center of an underside surface 152 of generallyplanar portion 130. A corresponding recess 154 is preferably formed atthe center of an upper surface 156 of generally planar portion 130. Aslot 158 is preferably formed at a junction of planar portion 130 andupstanding end portion 131 and preferably accommodates flexible flatcable 120, which extends therethrough.

A pair of spot welding locations 160 are preferably located on each ofupstanding end portions 131 and 132 and define locations onto whichmagnetic reader head portion 116 is spot welded thereto.

Reference is now made additionally to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which aresimplified pictorial illustrations of base element 124. As seen in FIGS.1-4B, base element 124 includes a central portion 170 having a pair ofupstanding side portions 172 and 174, terminating in correspondingmounting flanges 176 and 178. Mounting flange 176 includes threeapertures, here designated by reference numerals 180, 182 and 184, whilemounting flange 178 includes two apertures, here designated by referencenumerals 190 and 191. Mounting flange 178 extends beyond correspondingside portion 174 and defines a tab engagement surface portion 192.

Formed on an upper surface 193 of central portion 170 are a pair ofpartially circular spring seat defining portions, here designated byreference numerals 194 and 196. Formed in mutually facing orientationson inner facing surfaces of upstanding side portions 172 and 174 arerespective generally cylindrical protrusions 198 and 200 and a pair ofcorresponding protrusions 202 and 204, each having a partially circularcross-section and extending from corresponding cylindrical protrusions198 and 200 to upper surface 193.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2C and 2D, it is appreciated thatwhen assembled, the truncated cone spring 126 is seated at its narrowend about protrusion 150 extending downwardly from underside surface 152of generally planar portion 130 of magnetic head mounting bracket 122and is seated at its wide end between circular spring seat definingportions 194 and 196 which extend from upper surface 193 of centralportion 170 of base element 124.

Generally cylindrical protrusions 198 & 200 and correspondingprotrusions 202 & 204 of base element 124 are preferably located inslidable engagement with respective elongate slots 138 and 140 ofrespective legs 134 and 136 of magnetic head mounting bracket 122 forguiding and limiting mutual spring loaded displacement therebetween asdescribed hereinbelow with respect to FIGS. 6A-6C.

Reference is now made additionally to FIG. 5, which is a simplifiedillustration of a stage in the assembly of the magnetic stripe readermodule of FIGS. 2A-4B. It is seen that tab 146 is preferably broughtinto engagement with tab engagement surface portion 192 of base element124 just prior to arrangement of slots 138 and 140 of magnetic headmounting bracket 122 into slidable operative engagement with protrusions198 & 202 and 200 & 204 of base element 124.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 6A, 6B & 6C, which are simplifiedillustrations of the card reader of FIGS. 1-5 in three operativeorientations, when a card is not engaged with the card reader 100, whena card initially engages the magnetic stripe reader module 114 and whena card is engaged in magnetic stripe card reader engagement with thecard reader 100, respectively. As seen by comparing FIGS. 6A and 6B,initial insertion of a payment card into slot 112 and engagement of aleading edge of the payment card with the magnetic stripe reader module114 causes initial skewed displacement of the magnetic stripe readermodule 114 against the urging of truncated cone spring 126, as seen inFIG. 6B.

The displacement of the magnetic stripe reader module 114 andcompression of truncated cone spring 126 caused by the engagement of aleading edge of the payment card with the magnetic stripe reader module114 is seen by a comparison of the distance between a lower surface ofcentral portion 170 of base element 124 and a lower surface of footportions 144 of leg 136, as indicated by H0 in FIG. 6A, and the distancebetween the lower surface of central portion 170 of base element 124 andthe lower surface of foot portions 144 and 142 of legs 136 and 134, asindicated by H1 and H2 on left and right sides in FIG. 6B, respectively.As seen in FIGS. 6A-6B, H0 and H1 are equal, since the left side of thereader, as seen in FIG. 6B, has not been displaced downwardly, while H2is less than H0, since the right side of the reader, as seen in FIG. 6B,has been displaced downwardly by the engagement of a leading edge of thepayment card with the magnetic stripe reader module 114.

Once the leading edge of the payment card passes the highest portion ofthe magnetic stripe reader module 114, as seen in FIG. 6C, the magneticstripe reader module 114 is further displaced against the urging oftruncated cone spring 126 and is no longer skewed but is displaceddownward with respect to slot 112, as compared with its orientation inthe absence of card engagement, as seen in FIG. 6A.

The displacement of the magnetic stripe reader module 114 andcompression of truncated cone spring 126 caused by the leading edge ofthe payment card passing the highest portion of the magnetic stripereader module 114 is seen by a comparison of the distance between alower surface of central portion 170 of base element 124 and a lowersurface of foot portions 144 of leg 136, as indicated by H1 in FIG. 6B,and the distance between the lower surface of central portion 170 ofbase element 124 and the lower surface of foot portion 144 of leg 136,as indicated by H3 in FIG. 6C. As seen in FIGS. 6B-6C, H1 is greaterthan H3 and H2 equals H3, since the left side of the reader, as seen inFIG. 6C, has been displaced downwardly by the engagement of the paymentcard with the magnetic stripe reader module 114 to the same extent asthe right side of the reader was previously displaced.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, spring 126 exerts aforce of approximately 1.0 Newtons in the absence of a card in slot 112.During card swipe, when a magnetic stripe card is in operativeengagement with the magnetic stripe reader module 114, the force exertedby spring 126 increases to about 1.6 Newtons, due to compression ofsprings 126.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a simplified illustration of acard reader 300 constructed and operative in accordance with anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention. As distinguished fromcard reader 100 described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 1-6C, cardreader 300 is characterized in that it contains a sideways mountedmagnetic stripe reader module 314, which may in all relevant respects beidentical to magnetic stripe reader module 114 of FIGS. 1-6C.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited by what has been particularly claimed andincludes both combinations and subcombinations of features described andshown hereinabove as well as modifications thereof which are not in theprior art.

1. A magnetic stripe reader comprising: a base element defining a first spring seat; a magnetic module support element arranged for limited pivotable motion relative to said base element and defining a second spring seat, the magnetic module support element comprising: a generally planar portion; and a pair of legs disposed generally perpendicularly to said generally planar portion, each of said pair of legs defining an elongate slot; and a truncated conical spring having a first, relatively large diameter end seated in said first spring seat and a second, relatively small diameter end seated in said second spring seat, said truncated conical spring enabling said limited pivotable motion of said magnetic module support element relative to said base element; and a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto said magnetic module support element.
 2. (canceled)
 3. A magnetic stripe reader comprising: a base clement defining a first spring seat; a magnetic module support element arranged for limited pivotable motion relative to said base element and defining a second spring seat; a truncated conical spring having a first, relatively large diameter end seated in said first spring seat and a second, relatively small diameter end seated in said second spring seat; and a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto said magnetic module support element, said magnetic module support element comprising: a generally planar portion; and a pair of legs disposed generally perpendicularly to said generally planar portion, each of said pair of legs defining an elongate slot, and said base element comprising: a pair of cylindrical protrusions; and a pair of corresponding protrusions, each of said pair of cylindrical protrusions and each of said pair of corresponding protrusions being located in sliding engagement with a corresponding one of said elongate slots associated with one of said pair of legs.
 4. The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 3 and wherein said sliding engagement guides and limits mutual spring loaded displacement between said base element and said magnetic module support element.
 5. A magnetic stripe reader comprising: a base element defining a first spring seat; a magnetic module support element arranged for limited pivotable motion relative to said base element and defining a second spring seat; a truncated conical spring having a first, relatively large diameter end seated in said first spring seat and a second, relatively small diameter end seated in said second spring seat; and a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto said magnetic module support element, said magnetic module support element comprising: a generally planar portion; a pair of legs disposed generally perpendicularly to said generally planar portion, each of said pair of legs defining an elongate slot; and a retaining tab extending in a plane parallel to the plane of said generally planar portion; and said base element comprising a tab engagement surface portion engaging said retaining tab.
 6. The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 1 and wherein said truncated conical spring provides skewed displacement of said magnetic module support element relative to said base element when said magnetic stripe reader is engaged by a leading edge of a payment card.
 7. The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 3 and wherein said truncated conical spring provides skewed displacement of said magnetic module support element relative to said base element when said magnetic stripe reader is engaged by a leading edge of a payment card.
 8. The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 5 and wherein said truncated conical spring provides skewed displacement of said magnetic module support element relative to said base element when said magnetic stripe reader is engaged by a leading edge of a payment card. 